Snuffer-lighter device



Jan. 19, 1943. J. PORTER SNUFFER-LIGHTER DEVICE Filed June l2, 1941 www.we

A Il 1.419151 u N A 'Patented Jan. A149, 1943 SNUFFER-LIGHTER DEVICEJohn Porter, Seattle, Wash., assignerof twentyilve per cent to G. WrightArnold and twenty- `ive per cent to Edward W. Allen, both of Seattle,Wash.

Application June iz, 1941, semi No. 391,774

1 claim. (c1. 1an-25s) My invention relates to a snuifer device for usein connection with cigarettes, cigars and the like. As my device willfind its greatest application of use in connection with cigarettes, Iwill so describe -the same by way of illustration and not as alimitation of the invention.

While some forms of snuifers for use on cigarettes have been availablein the prior art, still such types of snuifers have not been used` to asubstantial extent in view of the fact that a lit cigarette, whensnuffed by such prior art snuffers and then relit, had the fiavor of apartially used cigarette. In other words, if a cigarette was put out orthe light extinguished bythe prior art snuffers, then if attempt weremade to again use such cigarette and relight the same, the avor wasgreatly impaired and a flavor of a partially used cigarette obtained.For such reason, most cigarette smokers Veither completed the smoking ofthe cigarette, or smoked the portion thereof they desired and then,either with or without extinguishing the light of the cigarette,discarded the so-called bfuttf It is an object of. my invention toprovide a device which may be used to extinguish the fire or light fromcigarettes so that a smoker may smoke any number of puffs desired from acigarette, then extinguish the re and relight the cigarette for anynumber of periods of times desired and permitted by the size of thecigarette, and at the same time to maintain the cigarette in a conditionso that the original aroma of the cigarette is present during thesmoking period, whether the light is intermittent or continuous. Some ofthe many advantages which result from such objects of my invention willbe hereinafter later described.

It is an object of my invention to provide a cigarette snuingfdevicewhich will snuff and extinguish the light of a cigarette and at the sametime absorb or eliminate the odors eminating therefrom.

It is a further object of my invention to snuH out a cigarette and atthe same time provide a coating or relatively hard ash which appears tofunc-tion as a protective coating, enhancing the keeping qualities, asrespects freshness, of a partially consumed cigarette.

At the present time there is a tendency of cigarette manufacturers toprovide an extra long or imperial size cigarette. It is an object of myinvention to provide means whereby the extra length of such cigarettesmay be made available for real use to smokers.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention, together withothers inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated inthe following drawing, the same being preferred exemplary forms ofembodiment of my invention, throughout which drawing likev referencenumerals indicate like parts: l. Figure 1 is a view in front elevationwith parts shown in dotted lines and with a portion of the cover plateremoved of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on broken line 2-2 ofFigure 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantiallyon broken line 3-3 ofFigure 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation with parts shown in dotted' linesand with a portion of the cover plate removed of a modified form of myinvention.

the carbon 20 is in the form of a cylindrical or Referring to thedrawing, the case 9 may be made of any suitable material, such as metalor a plastic, as Bakelite A wall II cooperates with the case member 9 toprovide a snuifer chamber I0. 'I'his snuifer chamber I 0 is sepa.- ratedfrom the lighter fluid chamber I2 so that lighting fluid in the chamberI2` may not enter the chamber I0. Within the snuifer chamber is-preferably provided a cigarette holding well formed by cylindricalwalls 2l which are preferably formed of glass, porcelain or the like.Within the cigarette well formed by the walls 2l is positioned a smokeand gas odor consuming material in the nature of carbon 26. Preferablycup like member so that the end portion of a lit cigarette may becompletely surrounded by the carbon 20. Also the cigarette well ispreferably of such size to serve as a cigarette buttl carrying orretaining device.

Within the chamber I2 is positioned the usual cotton or other absorbentmeans which may be saturated by the lighter fluid. This lighter fluid isgenerally a rather volatile hydrocarbon, as gasoline. Within the chamberI2 I employ a carbon wick I3 to serve as the lighter Wick of my lighterdevice. Preferably the carbon Wick i3 has a reduced end portion It. Inthis way I am able to provide a relatively large contact area betweenthe carbon wick I3 and the uid saturated cotton adjacent such wick andat the same time to provide an external end portion giving a light ofdesired size. The liill screw I9 functions as a removable screwso thatgasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon maybe deposited to properlysaturate the cotton surrounding the carbon wick I3. Also such :lillscrew I9 functions as means amorphous form, or charcoal.

to permit removal or insertion of a new carbon wick I3.

As illustrative of a spark producing device I have shown the wheel I5,the flint I6, and the spring Il urging the flint I 6 against theperiphery of the wheel I5. Also I have shown a screw I8 which willpermit insertion of new int as the same wear out. Obviously, the parts Ito I8 inclusive are merely illustrative of a spark producing device andany of the well known means on the market for such purpose may beobviously used.

Similarly the positioning of the lighter along side of the snuiferchamber i0 is merely illustrative and the same may be in end to endrelation. The enclosing cover 8 is illustrative of a form of cover whichmay be used.

'I'he type of carbon to be used in the carbon wick I3 or to be usedinthe carbon 20 is the I have discovered that charcoal has an attractionfor the noxious gases heretofore present under conditions presentlyconsidered and serves to remove the socalled partially used flavor of acigarette and also serves to absorb the gasoline or other fuel flavorfrom the wick I3.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a modified form of my invention with a snuferdevice embodied within a pencil-like carrying case 22 and having apocket engaging clip 23. As the Walls 2l, forming a cigarette well, thecharcoal cup and snuier chamber I0 of either Figs. 1 to 3 or Fig. 4 maybe identical they are given similar numbers. The device of Fig. 4obviously eliminates the advantages of having a lighter present, butadds the advantage of having a relatively small unit which may becarried like a pencil and a. cigarette may there be extinguished and thebutt easily carried within the well. The depth of well is preferablylong enough to retain cigarette butts and short enough to have a portionthereof protruding so the same may be readily removed.

One explanation of the mode of operation of my cigarette snuer appearsto be: Upon inserting the cigarette in the snuifer the oxygen is out offand thereby carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide gases collect, and bothbeing hungry for oxygen positively extinguish any flame because of thelack of oxygen. In other words, whatever particle is under combustion isimmediately suiocated for the lack of oxygen and is extinguished. Thecharcoal in the snuer then immediately absorbs the gases and keeps themfrom remaining in the burnt end of the cigarette. In other words, thecarbon draws to itself the gases and even possibly draws the gases fromthe unburnt part of the cigarette so that it acts as a scavengertherefor.

An important advantage of my invention is that it will eliminate thefoul smoke from smouldering cigarettes., As there was always thepossibility that a few more puis may be taken later from a cigarette, ithas been customary for smokers not to extinguish cigarettes. Therefore,the cigarette was allowed to remain lit, and often with the results: (1)loss of the balance of the cigarette, (2) continuous emitting smoketherefrom, (3) the possibility of lighting other material in the ashtray, as butts and the like, and (4) the possible fire hazard. Thepossible fire hazard is a matter of serious moment. It is commonknowledge that the furniture about the home or oiiice of an averagecigarette smoker is marred or seriously damaged by cigarette burns. Many0f Such cigarette burns will ruin the furniture surfaces and willrequire resurfacing of the same. Many other times fires have beenstarted from cigarettes which are left burning. When a cigarette is leftburning in an ash tray, it is generally left with the mouth end portionout of the tray and the opposite end within the ash tray. As suchopposite or lit end burns away, the cigarette will become overbalancedand will generally fall out of the ash tray and on to furniture and thelike.

It is obvious that where a smoker may conveniently snui out a cigarette.and at the same time later relight the same and obtain a satisfactorysmoke that every incentive is given to such cigarette smoker toeliminate the presence of burning butts which may be left about inplaces where damage to furniture or fire hazard will be present.

Another major advantage of a device embodying my invention is theeconomizing of cigarettes. Due to the fact that cigarettes may be putout and relit with a satisfactory smoke, smokers will have everyinducement to do so. As most cigarette smokers inhale and desire spacingto a greater or lesser degree between puffs of the cigarette, they canwell adapt .themselves to a practice of smoking a few puffs and thenextinguishing the cigarette and relighting the same for puffs later.Also many smokers who by occupation or circumstance are required to takeonly a few puffs of a cigarette at one .time and who at Ithe presenttime are required to throw away a relatively long butt of a cigarettewill find the device of my invention exceptionally useful to the needsof such parties. Without attempting to list such occupation andcircumstances, where parties are required 'to throw away relatively longbutts of cigarettes, I will list some thereof: Barbers, (attempting tosmoke between the arrival of customers), opera'tors of publicconveyances (as at the end of the line or when reporting to -thedispatcher), restaurant operators (attempting to smoke a few puffsbetween serving patrons), and shop and omce help and the like(attempting to smoke a cigarette on a short recess). Again in view ofthe present tendency of manufacturers to make extra long cigarettes,which are generally termed in the trade as imperials, cigarette smokerswith the use of a device embodying my invention ywill be able to takefull advantagel of the extra length of such cigarettes and at the sametime obtain a satisfactory smoke.

A cigarette, when snuffed by a device embodying my invention and Wherethe snufng takes place in the presence of charcoal, obtains an endcoating or relatively hard ash, which appears to function as theprotective coating, enhancing the keeping qualities, as respectsfreshness, of a partially consumed cigarette.

The charcoal wick I3 of my invention provides for the elimination of theodor of the fluid used in the mechanical fluid burning lighter. Further,such charcoal wick because of the porous character thereof serves tokeep sufficient liquid fuel at the external tip portion which is to belit and at the same time prevents the escape of excessive fuel. Further,such a charcoal wick provides a substantially permanent wick and one oflong life, if not permanent life, when properly used.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangementof the parts of my invention, without departing from the principlethereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

snuer chamber with the. ash portion advancing until contact with saidcharcoal member obtains, is snuffed While the ash portion is surroundedby the charcoal forming said Well and the gases and odors from suchcigarette are absorbed, eliminating contamination of the flavor of thecigarette for further use thereof.

JOHN PQRTER.v

